By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Not everyone owns a golf cart, but twice in the past two years, the Great Bend City Council has voted on whether or not to allow the vehicles on city streets and how to regulate them. Monday night, the council revised its 2024 update with a new set of rules. City Clerk Shawna Schafer recapped the biggest changes to the resolution.
“The motion that (City Attorney Allen Glendenning) is requesting is the golf cart ordinance for sunset to sunrise no golf carts, valid driver’s and 18 years old, one-time inspection if it’s the same golf cart, and annual renewal with a fee of $50,” Schafer recapped.
City Administrator Logan Burns laid out the revisions, including on which streets the golf carts would be allowed. Golf carts are prohibited on state or federal highways, or specified arterial streets in the city.
“This would include Broadway east of Patton, 24th Street east of McKinley, Harrison south of 24th, Washington and Patton north of 10th Street,” Burns said. “Operation would be permitted only on streets with posted speed limits of 30 miles an hour or less. Golf carts would, however, be allowed to cross those restricted roadways at designated intersections.”
Legal golf carts will be registered with the Great Bend Police Department annually and include seat belts for rear-facing seats, headlights, brake lights, and liability insurance. Police Chief Steve Haulmark did not oppose the ordinance as presented.
“My main concern with that was just that it be an individual with a valid license,” said Haulmark. “I didn’t want to see anyone with a farm license or permit, or anything like that. I feel like if somebody has a valid license, I’m satisfied with that, however, that’s entirely up to you guys. That shows me that person has been through driver training or, at least, taken the driver exam, so they know the rules of the road.”
Haulmark added part of the registration process will include handing the registrant a copy of the ordinance so there can be no doubt about knowledge of the rules.
Council Member Gary Parr took exception to the proposed $30 registration fee, suggesting it be raised to at least $100, with a portion of the registration fee and any golf cart-related fines being donated to a local children-related charity.
Glendenning said fees, by statute, may not be used for that purpose, but if a driver accused on an infraction went through the city’s diversion program, funds could be used for charity purposes.
Council Member Davis Jimenez asked for a yearly inspection upon registration of a cart. Mayor Alan Moeder said he felt that was unnecessary if the cart had been previously registered.
“I think driving a golf cart in the city is asking a lot from the community; slowing traffic down, the increase of safety issues,” Jimenez said. “The least is a yearly inspection.”
The final issue was the age of the cart driver. Council Member Jay Luerman suggested, and other council members agreed, they would not vote on an ordinance that allowed cart drivers to be 16.
“Obviously, a vehicle has more safety features than a golf cart, so I don’t think it’s comparing apples to apples,” Luerman said of driving a car.
The council voted 7-1 in favor of the revised ordinance, including the increased fee and restriction of the driver being at least 18 years of age. Jimenez was the lone vote against the revision.